Disabled gamers can now check out reviews of videogames done expressly with them in mind thanks to the AbleGamers Foundation.

Reviews featured on the main AbleGamers website are ranked, from 1 to 10, in terms of how the game performs for those with visual, hearing or motion impaired disabilities. These numbers are then factored in with additional ratings for closed captioning, speed settings, difficulty settings and options for colorblindness, among others, before a final grade is calculated.

AbleGamers Foundation Presiden Mark Barlet added, “There are countless sites out there that review games for their graphics and sound, but no one is looking at the game from the standpoint of accessibility. With 63 million Americans with disabilities this is a focus that is needed and who better to do it than the flagship site for disabled gamers, AbleGamers.com.”

16 game reviews are currently up on the site. BioWare’s Dragon Age for the PC is currently the highest-rated game to-date, garnering a 9.8. From the Game Accessibility section of the review:

One-handed gamers and the mobility impaired will have no problems playing at all. If you can only play with one hand or have difficulty playing many mainstream games, such as only being able to play with a mouse or a keyboard, this is a game for you. If you can play titles such as World of Warcraft, Aion, and Guild Wars then you will be able to play Dragon Age.

The lowest rated game so far is Nintendo’s Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Story for the DS, which received a 4.5 score. The reviewer enjoyed the game, but noted, “I pretty much can't recommend it to anyone with just about any disability.”

Comments

Thank you for noticing our review system. http://AbleGamers.com has been around for 5 years, we formed the non-profit to support our growth earlier this year. Thank you all for the kind words and sane comments on our endeavors (you should see what some sites say about disabled gamers, needless to say I am embarrassed for the entire gaming community)

If there's something missing, or there is something that needs to be added, please let us know. We are gamers with disabilities working to make gaming better for everyone.

Of course, one odd issue, though I may have missed it somewhere on the page, is that the site itself doesn't appear to be accessible friendly. It seems to rely heavily on graphics and, contrary to many sites heavy into disable users, doesn't offer a text or accessible friendly link.

It's an interesting concept. One wonders if such a review system will catch on in the eyes of the industry, thereby affecting future design.

It's not likely to catch on to the general population immediately. But the more interest, even through mere curiosity, the more both the general consumer and the general industry will pay attention and start to make some changes. Or, if not all out change, provide the ability for adaptability for their hardware/software.

Indeed, if the review site receives a large number of hits over time, it would show that there is a greatere population of those interested in, if not in need of, hardware/software which can be modified through options or more specialized equipment access. The general industry may find itself with increased revenue through increased accessability. After all, that's what the industry is about, making money.

I like the move towards captions in games lately. It's generally hard to hear characters talking over explosions, caves imploding, etc. Just keep it optional for those who want or need it while making sure they know it's an available option.

Unfortunately, games by their very nature are not going to be the most accessible medium for people who are partially or completely blind, and depending on the colors used, people who are color blind. Although there was that one completely blind guy who could play Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance fairly well by the game's sounds alone.

All gaming needs to be more accessible is more control options like button mapping and more save options like control over check points time based saves and quick saves. Not to mention audio options like independent volume control for voice,sound and music. That with caption options for size and pause the game to read thigns like this open the door to more gamers, open it a bit more by adjusting difficulty settings independently gravity, damage done,damage taken, location damage effects(head shot instant kill,leg shot trip),fall damage and such(not to mention would open up all games to more consumers the esier to paly the more people will play them over time) would make the game accessible to anyone who can hold a controller.

To finish off the accessibility to the most widest audience possible open up controller design license's for free or cheap to anyone who builds them specifically for the disabled.

It would not take much on the part of the industry to do this but they are simply not interested beyond lip service....

Pronouced diss'aid, MR troll, it sounds better than able gamers that sounds like some whacked out we can do anything becuse we are "specail" group....oy...I am specail too ya know...and I certainly can;t do everything!!!

I like this too, one of my friend is very fond of playing console games but unfortunately he is disabled and i dont like this thing about it. I will forward this thing to him, hope this will help him._________________________________________________________folders printing | folder printing

Infophile: @Matt: Apparently Dan Aykroyd actually is involved. We don't know how yet, though, but he's apparently going to be in the movie in some way.08/02/2015 - 4:17am

Mattsworkname: I still hold that not having the origonal cast invovled in any way hurts this movie, and unless the 4 actresses in the lead roles can some how measure up to the comic timing of the origonal cast, i just don't see it being a success08/02/2015 - 12:46am

Mattsworkname: Mecha: regardless of what you think of it, GB 2 was a finanical success and for it time did well with audiances ,even if it wasnt as popular as the first08/02/2015 - 12:45am

MechaTama31: I think they're better off trying to do something different, than trying to be exactly the same and having every little difference held up as a shortcoming. Uncanny valley.08/01/2015 - 11:57pm

MechaTama31: Having the original cast didn't do much for... that pink-slimed atrocity which we must never speak of.08/01/2015 - 11:56pm

Mattsworkname: Andrew: If the new ghostbusters bombs, I cant help but feel it'll be cause it removed the origonal cast and changed the formula to much08/01/2015 - 8:31pm

Andrew Eisen: Not the best look but that appears to be a PKE meter hanging from McCarthy's belt.08/01/2015 - 7:34pm

Mattsworkname: You know what game is a lot of fun? rocket league. It' s a soccer game thats actually fun to play cause your A Freaking CAR!08/01/2015 - 7:02pm

Mattsworkname: Nomad colossus did a little video about it, showing the world and what can be explored in it's current form. It's worth a look, and he uses text for commentary as not to break the immerison08/01/2015 - 5:49pm

Mattsworkname: I feel some more mobility would have made it more interesting and I feel that a larger more diverse landscape with better graphiscs would help, but as a concept, it interests me08/01/2015 - 5:48pm

Andrew Eisen: Huh. I guess I'll have to check out a Let's Play to get a sense of the game.08/01/2015 - 5:47pm

Mattsworkname: It did, I found the idea of exploring a world at it's end, exploring the abandoned city of a disappeared alien race and the planets various knooks and crannies intriqued me.08/01/2015 - 5:46pm

Andrew Eisen: Did it appeal to you? If so, what did you find appealing?08/01/2015 - 5:43pm

Mattsworkname: Its an interesting concept, but it's not gonna appeal to everyone thats for sure,08/01/2015 - 5:40pm

Andrew Eisen: That sounds horrifically boring. Doesn't sound like an interesting use of its time dilation premise either. 08/01/2015 - 5:36pm